Basket carrying carriage



March 18,` 1952 H. l. SIDES BASKET CARRYING CARRIAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed vNov. l, 1949 A INVENTQR. EaZ/oid d/615,

BY' l March 18, 1952 H. l. SIDES BASKET CARRYING CARRIAGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. l, 1949 v INVETOR.

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March 18, 1952 H. SIDES BASKET CARRYING CARRIAGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. l, 1949 @MyW/fm Patented Mar. 18, 1952 vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BASKET CARRYING CARRIAGE Harold I. Sides, Chicago, Ill.` Application November 1, 1949, Serial No. 124,866

2 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to basketsupporting carriages especially suited for use in self-service stores, and it has particular relation to innovations and new and useful improvements in basket-supporting carriages for self-service stores wherein conventional type wire baskets lwith inwardly sloping sides may be supported on the carriages and may be tilted up when empty so as to permit nesting of the carriages with baskets attached.

An important object of the invention is a basket-supporting carriage or cart for self-service stores to which may be attached a conventional type wire basket having inwardly sloping sides, the basket being supportable in the horizontal position for loading and being tiltable to the upright position when empty. y

Another object of the invention is a basketsupporting carriage or cart for use in self-service stores having a basket receiving and retaining attachment which is spring-biased so as to maintain an empty basket in its vertically tilted position when not weighted down by the insertion of goods in the basket so as to cause it to assume the horizontal position.

A further object of the invention is a basketsupporting carriage or cart for self-service stores having a frame base portion which is open at vthe rear and convergent toward the front and having a basket-supporting connection or attachment on a frame upright portion whereby a wire basket with inwardly slopingsides may be supported either in the horizontal or vertical position, thereby permitting the carts with baskets attached to be nested together so as to occupyreduced space.

Still another important object of the invention is a basket-supporting carriage for selfservice stores having a basket-receiving connection whereby a conventional type wire basket with inwardly sloping sides may be attached and detached to and from the carriage, and when attached may readily be placed either in the horizontal goods-receiving position or locked in the verticallyv tilted empty condition, for nesting.

Another object of the invention is a basketsupporting carriage or cart for self-service stores having a frame which comprises a base portion and an upright basket-supporting portion, the base portion'having side members which are convergent and downwardly inclined from front to rear and which carry a downwardly inclined platform whereby the carriages may be nested together.

Certain other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

For a more complete understanding of vthe nature and scope of the invention, reference may now behad to the .following detailed description y thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a basket-supporting carriage for self-service stores constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention and shown with a basket attached in the horizontal goods-receiving position and having broken lines showing the position of the basket in its empty vertically tilted position with a plurality of the Acarriages nested together;

of the upper basket-supporting and handle pushing portion of a carriage forming another embodiment of the invention;

ture shown in Fig. 6 showing a basket attached and in its load-receiving position; and

Fig. 8 isa fragmentary top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 7

Referring to Figs. 1 3 of the drawings, the reference numeral I0 designates, generally, a basket-supporting carriage or cart for self-service stores (e. g. super markets) which constitutes one embodiment of the present invention. The carriage I0 has a frame which may be fabricated from flat metal stock by welding. The base of the carriage Ill comprises a U-shaped frame member II having forwardly convergent side portions I2 and I3 (Fig. 2) interconnected at the front ends by the integral interconnecting portion I4. At their free or rear ends, the sidev portions I2 and I3 are riveted, as indicated at; I5, to a pair of upright or vertical frame mem-` bers lli-IB. The side portions I2 and I3 aref maintained in their convergent relationship bymeans of cross members Il, I8 and 20 in ther I form of at pieces or strips which may be weldedl to the top edges of the side portions I2 and I3` The base of the carriage Ill is further braced and also made into an article-supporting plat` form by three strips 2|, 22 and 23 (Fig. 2) extending from the top edge of the front frame portion I4, rearwardly over the cross pieces Il, I8

and 20.

Caster-receiving sockets '24 and 25 are provided in the front corners of the base of the carriage I0. form of tubes or sleeves which are secured to the corners by the mounting brackets 26 and 2l respectively. The posts or stems 28 of casters 30,-30 fit in the sockets 24 and 25 and are provided with rollers or wheels 3I-3I.

The sockets 24 and 25 are in thev The casters 30-30 in the front corners of the base serve to support the front of the carriage I and it is supported at the rear by a pair of wheels or rollers 32--32 suitably mounted in known manner on the bottom ends of the vertical frame members I6-I6. The rear wheels 32 are aligned in a front to rear direction and are not free to turn around their vertical axes. It will be noted that the rear wheels 32 are somewhat larger than the front wheels 3l and that t'ne base portion of the carriage Il) which includes the frame element II is downwardly inclined toward the front of the carriage I0.

The vertical frame members IG-I at opposite sides of the carriage I0 are braced in their vertical position by brace members 33-33 (Fig. 1). The braces 33 are rigidly connected, by rivets or welding`v at their opposite endsY to the vertical frame members I6 and the side portions I2 and I3.

The vertical frame members I6 are braced apart intermediate their upper and lower ends by a forwardly and upwardly inclined U-shaped member 34. The opposite sides of the member 34 are secured at their ends as by welding to the .Vertical members I6 while the portion 35 which interconnects the ends of the U-member 34v serves as a rest or stop for a basket 36. At their upper ends, the vertical side members I are interconnected by a cross member 31 having portions 38-38 which project beyond the members I6. A U-shaped handle member-40 extends in spaced relationship along the rear of the cross member and the forwardly turned end portions are interconnected thereto as indicated at 4I-4I.

Reference may now be had particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 for a description of the structure whereby thebasket 36V may be attached to the carriage I0 and supported either in the horizontal goodsreceiving position, as shown in full line in Fig. 1, or in the empty, tilted or vertical position as shown in broken line in Fig. 1. sides of the U-shaped handle member 40 project forwardly beyond thecross member 31 and have inwardly turnedv end portions 42--42 (Figs. 2 andl 5). The portions 42 are spaced from the front edge of the member 31 as indicated atv 43--43L A combination hook and bracket member4 44 is provided adjacent the inner end of each of the inwardly turned portions 42 of the handle 40.- Each of the elements or members 44 cornprises a vertical portion 45 which is secured at its upper edge to the adjacent projecting end portion 38 of the cross member 31. A weld 46 may serve to connect each vertical portion 45 with the adjacent end portion 38. A horizontal bottom portion 41 extends forwardly from the bottom end of the vertical portion 45 and a vertical portion 48 extends integrally from the outer` end of the horizontal portion 41. At the upper end of the vertical portion 48 a rearwardly directed portion 53 is formed which is spaced from the top of the projecting end 33 and the top of the vertical portion 45. The members 44 together with end portions 42 form basket corner receiving sockets which are open at the top and open at the inner ends. The portions 42 and 45 form the front and rear wall of each socket. The portion 41 forms the bottom of each socket and the outer end of each socket is closed by the adjacent portion 49 of the handle 48.

Baskets having inwardly sloping sides are adaptedto be supported on the carriage II). The basketsare usually formedlof wire and are available in commercial designs andi need not be The opposite 4 modified in any way for use with the carriage l0. It will be understood that the baskets should have theproper over-all dimensions depending upon the dimensions and size of the carriage I0. The basket 36 shown in Fig. 1 is of a typical commercial design and is formed of wire framework having suitable reinforcing elements. One of the reinforcing elements is in the form of a continuous rectangular frame member 5I (Figs. 1 and 2) which defines the top outline or opening of the basket 36 and over which the upper ends of the vertical wires 52-52 are connected as 1ndicated at 53. Corners of the basket frame element 5I are curved as indicated at 54-54 in Figs. 2 and 5. The spacing of the frame wires comprising the rear wall of the basket 36 is such as to permit the rear portion of the element 5I to hook'A over the hook portions 50 as shown in Figs. 1 through 5. The basket 36 is thus supported in the horizontal position as shown in full line in Fig. 1 and is in position to receive and support goods which may be loaded thereinto. When so loaded, the basket 36 is in cantilever suspension with the rear wall or side of the basket` 36 resting against the front edge of the U-shaped member 34 as indicated at 56 (Fig. 1). The basket 36 is prevented from rotating around or along the edge 56 by the engagement of the rear portion 55 of the basket member 5I with the vertical portion 48 of the members 44 as illustrated.

in Figs. 4 and 5.

When the basket 36 is empty and it is desired that it be supported in its vertical or tilted' position as shown in Fig. 1, it may be rotated around the rear portion 55 of the reinforcingV element 5I and the width of the basket 36 is such that it'will slide down into the basket corner receiving.

sockets so that the oppositeY ends of rear portion 55 rest on the bottom portions 41 of the elements 44 as shown in broken line in Figs` 4 and 5. In this position, the opposite sides of the reinforcing element 5I engage the inwardlyturnedv portions 42 of the handle 40 and prevent the basket 36 froml tilting down toward the front of the carriage I0. The basket 3S isV prevented from tilting toward the rear by the engagement of the sides ofthe frame element 5I adjacent the corners54 with the portions 45 of the elements 44.

The basket 36 may be unlocked from its vertically tilted position by lifting it up so that the rear portion 55 of the element 5I is raised out ofthe basket corner receiving sockets.

When it is desired to nest a number' of the carriages I Il together with the baskets 36 attached thereto, the baskets are tiltedup' to the vertical position as showny in broken line in Fig.. 1 and then the forward end of the base portion of each carriage Ill is inserted into the rear of the carriage in front of it, as illustrated. Thus, the base of one carriage ts in'and underneath the base of the next forward carriage while the baskets 36 interiit with each other as shown .in Fig. 1.

A modified structure for supporting thebaskets 36 in either' a horizontal goods-receiving position or in the vertical or upwardly tilted position is shown in Figs. 6v through 8. Inthese figures only the upper portions of a pair of vertical side frame members SII- are shown, it being understood that the' base portion of the carriage may, for example, take the form of the base portion of the carriage I0 shown in and describedin connection with Figs. 1 through 5. The.

upright.' orl vertical frame members.` 60--60 are Vsupported in their spaced apart condition adjacent their upper ends by a cross member 6I which also serves as a rest or stop for a flat frame 62 against which rests the back side of a basket 36. The side members 68 are rearwardly and upwardly curved adjacent their upper ends as indicated at 63 and are interconnected together by the cross piece 64 extending integrally therebetween, and providing a handle for pushing the carriage. A U-shaped member 65 having a rear portion 66 is tted to the inside of handle 64 with integral side elements 61--61 projecting forwardly and spaced inwardly from the portions 63 of the vertical frame members 60.

The frame 62 is composed of an outside continuous rod 68 having a bottom portion 18, integrally divergent side portions 1I-1i, outwardly extending horizontal portions 12-12 extending integrally from the upper ends of the portions 1 I--1 I, portions 13-13 projecting integrally from outer ends of the portions 12-12 and inwardly projecting portions 14-14 inwardly turned from the upper ends of the portions 13-13. The base portion and side portions 1|-1l lie in one plane while the portions 12, 13 and 14 lie in a second plane forming an obtuse angle as shown in Fig. 6. At their inner ends, the inwardly turned end portions 14-14 project through apertures provided therefor in, and adjacent the outer ends of, forwardly projecting sides 61 of the U- member 65. The free ends of the portions 1li- 14 are threaded and nuts 15 secure them to the U- member 65.

Each of the horizontal end portions 14 is provided .with a coil spring 16 with one end of each of the springs 16 having a hook 11 (Figs. 7 and 8) which fits underneath the adjacent side 61 of the U-member 65 while the otherI end of the spring 16 has a hook 18 which fits around the horizontal portion 12 of the frame 62. The coil springs 16 are so twisted that the end 18 tends to turn or unwind in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. '1, thereby tending to rotate the frame 62 around the axes of the horizontal end portions 14.

Link members 86-88 are associated with each of the projecting sides 61 of the U-member 65. Each of the links 8l] is provided with notches 8l and 82 at opposite ends thereof and each of the links 80 is provided with an aperture adjacent its upper end, through which projects the horizontal portion 14 of the frame 62. The bottom notches 82 t over the horizontal portions 12 of the frame 62 as shown in Fig. 6 while the uppernotches 8l are free to receive the rear portion 55 of the frame element 5| of the basket 36.

Each of the slots 8| is provided with an offset inner end 83. When the baskets 36 are tilted upwardly in their vertical position with the links 80 turned as shown in broken line in Fig. '1,

the rear portion 55 of the basket rests against when an article of small weight is placed in the 7 basket, it will be retained in its horizontal position. For example. an article weighing one pound may be suflicient when placed in the forward end of the basket.

The baskets 36 are easily removed from the supporting structure shown in Figs. 5 through '7 by retaining the frame 62 in its downward position as shown in Fig. 6, and lifting the basket out of the slots 8|. The rear or back sides of the baskets `rest against, and are supported by, the frame 62 as indicated at 85 in Fig. 7.

Since certain changes may be made in the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, and described above in connection therewith, and different embodiments cf the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, all matter described above or shown in the drawings is intended to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A basket-supporting carriage adapted for use in self-service stores and comprising, in combination, a frame structure including a base portion and an upright portion, a basket-supporting rest to which the rear side of a basket may be attached, connection means for pivotally connecting said rest to said frame upright portion whereby said rest is rotatable from a downward position to an upward position, and spring means having a stationary end connected with said frame upright portion and movable end connected with said rest so as to bias said rest from its downward to its upward positionl a basket supported on said rest being in the horizontal position when said rest is in its downward position, and being in its vertically tilted position when said rest is in its upward position.

2. A basket-supporting carriage adapted for use in self-service stores and comprising, in combination, a frame structure including a base portion and an upright portion, said upright portion including a pair of upright side members interconnected at the top by a transverse handle member, a pair of spaced mounting brackets Jprojecting forwardly from said handle member, a basket-supporting rest having horizontal mounting portions adjacent the upper edge which are pivotally connected with said brackets whereby said rest may be turned about a horizontal axis adjacent its upper edge, stop means on said frame upright portion limiting the downward pivoting of said rest so that when a basket is supported thereon it will be in a horizontal position, at least one coil spring mounted on one of said horizontal mounting portions having one end stationarily secured to the adjacent mounting bracket and having the other end attached to said rest so as to bias and hold said rest in its upwardly tilted position in which an empty basket supported on said rest is maintained in its vertically tilted position.

HAROLDv I. SIDES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 156,701 Concklin Jan. 3, 1950 2,141,881 Schray Dec. 2'1, 1938 2,212,053 Smith Aug. 20, 1940 2,479.530 Watson Aug. 16, 1949 

